Marenostro stays home in bid to find form

Chris Waller has opted not to send Marenostro north to chase more black-type at Doomben, hoping the durable gelding can find form in the familiar surrounds of Sydney.

A first Queensland road trip was on the drawing board for the six-year-old when Sydney’s premier trainer nominated Marenostro for the Listed Tattersall’s Mile but he will instead race in Saturday’s Open Handicap (1800m) at Randwick.

“The choice came down to not travelling because he’s not in his best form. We’ve decided to keep him home,” Waller said.

He also had the option to let Marenostro defend the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill next weekend, but again his performances this preparation ruled out the possibility of going back-to-back.

“That’s how he’s going. He’s not going as well as he did last year. We’re just trying to get him into some form,” Waller said.

“It’s not an overly strong race. It’s the right race for him and there’s no excuses for him on Saturday.”

Waller said Marenostro, a $10 chance in early markets, may eventually head north to his Gold Coast base which is expected to be operational from August 1.

“That’s the idea of opening up the Queensland stable for these horses struggling for form,” Waller said.

“A trip away can help invigorate them. It’s slightly easier as well to get them into form and then bring them back.”

While Marenostro, who has only one placing from four races this campaign, trialled well on Tuesday, Waller said stablemate Liapari ($4.20) was the pick of his quartet of runners.

“He’s a little bit suspect at the 1800 but he’s in great form,” he said.

“He handles all tracks. He’s foolproof.

“So Willie ($4.60) ran second to Liapari last start. He’s won three races this prep so he’s also in good form. A soft track won’t worry him.”

Loophole ($31), a 61-race veteran, also needed to rediscover form when fourth-up.

“We struggle to find the right races for him,” Waller said.

“The 1800 on Saturday is the best we can get.

“He needs to improve or he might be on the bus to Queensland.”

The Kris Lees-trained Sound Proposition is the $3.80 favourite to to back up his recent 1600m-win.